Saturday night, I had the opportunity to attend the 20th annual Chair Affair design competition here in Boise.

I was my friend Amy Pence-Brown's plus one. She is one of my favorite people. I enjoy her company so much and I always meet new interesting people when I'm with her. She seriously knows everyone in town.

This was the 20th annual Chair Affair! Most of the chair (or table) designs were by college students. Many of the designs featured recycled materials, which I loved.

One of the highlights on the night for me was winning a chair in the raffle! Coincidentally, so did another friend who was there, Kathleen Probst.

Another highlight was meeting Jordan Cappella, who is an HGTV Design Star finalist, and was a guest judge for Chair Affair. He was lovely and so nice!

When Yanique contacted me about making a custom doll family resembling her family, I was immediately excited. I was well acquainted with the family's stylishness and gorgeousness from being an Instagram follower of Yanique's (@yan_o_gram). I mean, look at this sweet family.

When I received a request to make a doll resembling a young man in graduation cap and gown for the customer's boyfriend as a graduation gift, I was surprised. Sure, it's unique and personalized, and a memento of the big day, but would a college/high school grad really want a doll that looked like himself/herself in graduation garb for a gift? But as I went thought the process of designing and making the doll, I began to get it. And by all accounts, the new grad was thrilled with his gift. What, exactly, makes this work?

1. It really hits the right note of sentimentality for such a big life event. People (the grads themselves as well as family and friends) already feel nostalgic and reminiscent over the hard work that went into this accomplishment. Since a doll is primarily a children's toy, it represents how far the grad has come.

2. For high school grads, it can be a friendly face sitting up on the university-issued bookshelf when the new college student gets back to the dorm after a grueling day of classes, and is just learning to navigate college life. It is a reminder of the person who gave it to them and the love that person feels for them. And it's a reminder that the student got through high school, and can do the same with college.

3. For college grads, it acts as a reminder of their accomplishments of university life. Sometimes the period of time just after college graduation is particularly daunting, now more than ever with the competition of the job search. It can be a calming act to look up at the self above the computer after sending the upteenth resume out, and see a smiling face, reminding you of the person who loves you that gave you the doll, and to remember how far you've come and how far you've yet to go.

4. It's definitely the most unique gift your grad will receive. How flattering to own a little model of oneself. And chances are pretty slim that someone else will have given them the same thing!

Contact me if you'd like to place an order for a grad doll. Remember, dolls generally take 2 weeks to complete, so order now to have it by graduation!